Housing plans for former Chef Peking restaurant given green light

Fresh plans to convert the Chef Peking Restaurant in Maidenhead and replace it with housing were approved by Royal Borough councillors at a planning meeting last night.

Shanly Homes has been given the green light to knock down the vacant restaurant in Ray Mead Road and construct eight two bedroom apartments with parking and landscaping.

Speaking at the meeting at the town hall last night, Cllr Simon Dudley (Con, Riverside) urged members to back the plans.

"The site is becoming a bit of an eye sore," he said.

"Something needs to be done with it. It is non-viable as it is."

The restaurant closed in 2010 and has stood empty since.

The latest plans follow a series of rejected proposals for the site from the developer, with the most recent application to build nine flats refused by councillors at a meeting in February.

Fears were raised further when Shanly announced it was in talks with supermarket Sainsbury's to take over the site.

An application to install two external illuminated Sainsbury's signs outside the former restaurant were rejected by councillors at last nights meeting.

Plans were also approved for the change of use of Lucky Tyres in Denmark Street. It will be converted to a MOT, car servicing and tyre shop.

Plans to install two new temporary classrooms at Berkshire College of Agriculture were approved.

A decision on whether to approve the construction of two four bed houses  in Woodlands Park Road were deferred to allow for a site visit to take place. Councillors raised fears about the impact on traffic and the access to the site.